Recently I was in a conversation regarding the amount of freedom our kids have today. Some say that we shelter our kids too much from the dangers out there. Some say better safe than sorry. In the world we live in today there are a lot of crazy things going on. Have these things always been going on and we just did not know about it? Maybe we just know more now with the internet and all the forms of media?
Would you allow your 9-year-old to ride his or her bike to a friend's house a half mile away? I will admit I am one of those better safe than sorry moms when it comes to things like this. Maybe it is because I watch too many episodes of Criminal Minds, but the dangers out there really freak me out. As my kids get older they are requesting more freedom. I do not want to keep them from doing the things kids their age do, or do I?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
13 opinions:
Personally, I'd never let a 9 year old ride his bike alone. There are just WAY too many nutjobs out there these days. It's sad, but true! I never had to worry about that stuff as a kid and would be out all afternoon/evening until dinner time at 9 years old. It really is so sad!
well, i don't know yet. my kids are 2.5 and 1. i remember riding all around the neighborhood when i was a kid, but times have changed. i guess it depends on the neighborhood you live in.
thanks for stopping by my blog!!! i was born in 1980 so i barely fit into the Gen X! ;) love your posts! i'll be back!
do you mind me asking how you found my blog???
You know, when I was 9, my mom let me walk 2 miles to school with a couple of other kids. And home again. Today, even SHE wouldn't let a 9 year old.
As far as your question about weather or not it's always been going on, or we just know more about it now, I think it's some of both.
I think it's always been going on, but now, it's not a dirty little secret- people who have been hurt or who have lost children put it out there. They say what needs to be said and get the guilty caught. I think also, that because of the internet (which is a very good thing if you use it correctly) and other media, there are a lot of decent people, who, in the past- say, like 20 years ago or more when we weren't constantly bombarded with negative influences by media, would be decent people who wouldn't dream about hurting someone. Unfortunately, all it takes is for one guy (or woman) to be surfing the internet and accidentally stumble upon child pornography. It's addictive. IT's terrible, and it's poison. They get addicted, and then they've become a child molester. I think both things feed this fear that we mothers have for our children.
P.S. Now following from MBC. COme and see me sometime!!
Hi, visiting from MBC. I think you need to be protective when they are little it's not worth the risk. As they get older (tweens,teens) it is a tightrope walk deciding when to give more freedom.It depends on the child & the situation.
Glad to hear everyone's thoughts! Thanks for all the comments. It is such a scary thing. I really think it doesn't matter where you live either, because there are weirdos everywhere. Some of them look so 'normal'. Have you ever looked at the Sex Offender Registry for your own town. Unbelievable!
I think that over-protective parents get a bad rap and the under-protective ones don't take any criticism until they end up getting arrested or having a kid get hurt or killed.
Personally, I over-protect. My parents did it too and I'm just fine.
I let my daughter walk to a store about a mile away with friends. :-? I think with friends is the key. Predators are very unlikely to take on more than one. Most kids have cell phones too so that's a thought.
Love your blog name. :-)
Oh whoops she was 13 at the time. :-)
That is a constant dilemma. I have always erred on the side of being too cautious I guess.
Came over from SITS.
My son is only 2, so perhaps my ideas will change when he is older but I absolutely see no problem with having "free range kids" and fully intend to let him have quite a bit of freedom to do things on his own. But that said, I also hope to instill him with a good attitude towards making his own safety decisions.
I think the same things that happen now happened when we were kids, we just know more about it now. I don't think that makes it any less safe to allow more freedom for your children.
Then again... I'm "that parent" who sits back and watches her son run all over the playground and far away. Although I am attentive and always keep him in my sight I've had comments on how I should be staying closer to him. So who Knows?
Stopping by from SITS, Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Thanks for stopping by my post! I love your blog & idea for posts!!
I use to play in the woods for hours at a time with my sister when I was little and now the thought of even walking in those same woods with my son makes me sick, homeless people seriously live there. times have changed!
Post a Comment